Apparatus for improving printing surface of printing material

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for improving the printing surface of a sheet of printing material including means to apply moisture and means to compress the sheet of material against a smooth heated surface.

United States Patent [191 Anderson [111 3,826,016 [451 July 30, 1974 APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING PRINTING SURFACE OF PRINTING MATERIAL [76] Inventor: James Kagey Anderson, 924

Exmoor, Louisville, Ky. 40223 [22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 312,561v

[52] US. Cl 34/152, 29/902, 162/288, 162/206, 219/469, 219/388 [51] Int. Cl B24b 39/00 Field of Search 34/155, 152, 151, 148, 34/124,114,122,113,l19,l10, 23,153; 38/56, 44, 57, 48, 49, 11; 29/901, 90.2; 21'9/469-471, 388; 162/204, 206, 288, 207

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 253,661 2/1882 Baldwin 38/49 916,482 3/1909 Noyes 29/902 1,113,908 10/1914 Pope 29/902 1,855,435 4/1932 Williams 29/902 2,375,676 5/1945 Miller 34/152 2,686,377 8/1954 Case 38/11 2,900,738 8/1959 Offen....

2,933,825 4/1960 Small 3,073,038 1/1963 Dapscs 3,206,869 9/1965 Justus .1 34/113 3,242,587 3/1966 Dupasquier 34/60 3,333,533 1/1967 Argonin 29/90.! 3,602,449 8/1971 Sroku 38/49 3,740,867 6/1973 Hamaguchi 38/1 1 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 515,238 11/1939 Great Britain 29/902 739 3/1859 Great Britain 29/901 469,976 8/1914 France 34/60 662,780 8/1929 France 34/48 Primary Examiner-Meyer Perlin Assistant Examiner-Paul Devinsky [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for improving the printing surface of a sheet of printing material including means to apply moisture and means to compress the sheet of material against a smooth heated surface.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING PRINTING 7 SURFACE OF PRINTING MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION plurality of pairs of pressure rolls. The pairs of pressure rolls are generally mounted so that each pair of rollers are adapted to receive a sheet of material therebetween,and pressing against each other, smooth out the rough portions of the material. Furthermore, the sheets of material are fed at a predetermined rate through the rollers and the rollers are adapted to rotate in the same direction as the moving sheet of material and at about the samerate of speed. Also, in some systems, steam means are utilized to moisten the printing material prior to entrance into the pressure rolling portion of the system in order to enhance the glossy appearance of the printing surface. However, it has-been found that the aforementioned method of improving the printing surface of printing materials has proved to be expensive. Furthermore, an even better product, from a smoothness and appearance point of view, has been sought by the printing industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, it is recognized that it is desirable to provide an apparatus for improving the printing surface of a sheet of printing material which is ecorial in contacting relationship therebetween with the surface of the sheet to be treated contacting the heated nomical to manufacture and operate. It is further recognized that it is desirable to provide an apparatus for improving the printing surface of a sheet of printing material which is superior to the apparatuses presently available commercially. It is even further recognized that it is desirable to provide an apparatus for improving the printing surface of a sheet of printing material which may be utilized by printing companies ot upgrade the quality of printing materials.

The present invention advantageously provides a straightforward arrangement for an apparatus for improving the printing surface of a sheet of printing material. The present invention further provides for an apparatus for improving the printing surface of a sheet of printing material which is economical to manufacture, economical to operate, and requires a relatively small area. I

Various other features of the present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth hereinafter.

More particularly, the present invention provides an apparatus for improving the printing surface ofa sheet of printing material comprising: a treating zone for continuously treating one surface of a sheet ofprinting material including at least one rotatably mounted roller and a heated surface having at least one portion thereof with a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the roller, the roller being disposed to contact the heated surface, the roller and heated surface further being adapted to receive a sheet of matesurface; and, moistening means, the moistening means being adapted for moistening the surface of the sheet of printing material which is to be treated upstream of the heated surface.

It is to be understood that the description of the examples of the present invention given hereinafter are not by way of limitation. Various modifications within the scope of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating another preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus for improving the printing surface of a sheet of printing material of the present invention includes two treating zones. The first treating zone is adapted to treat one side of a sheet of printing material and the second treating zone is adapted to treat the opposite side of the sheet of printing material.

The first treating zone includes at least one rotatably mounted cylinder or roller, two being shown in FIG. 1, identifiable as rollers'2 and 3, a heated surface 4, and a steam conduit 6. The rollers 2 and 3 are pressure rolls mounted directly above the heated surface 4 and are adapted for contacting the surface 4 under a predetermined amount of pressure. Rollers 2 and 3 are generally constructed with a non-metallic surface. I have found that rollers having a surface of a hard silicon rubber or cotton work very well, as long as the surface material is adapted for operation at temperatures of up to 400 F. Also, rollers 2 and 3 are generally adapted to rotate in the same direction as the movement of a sheet of printing material with which they are in contact, but at a selected rotational speed such that the rollers will have a surface speed greater than the speed of the moving sheet material. Means for rotating the rollers may be by any conventional means, such as motors 11 and 12, motor 11 being for roller 2, and motor 12 being for roller 3. It is realized that only one motor may be necessary or the rollers may be connected through proper gearing to a motor drive which operates, for example, the feeding device for a printing machine. Various other means may be utilized for driving the pressure roller without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the mounting of the pressure rollers 2 and 3, the rollers 2 and 3 are specifically mounted to exert a predetermined amount of pressure on the surface 4. Supports 16 and 17 with predetermined pressure exerting means 18 and 19, respectively, are provided to support and receive the rollers 2 and 3, whereby a uniform and preselected pressure may be applied to the rollers 2 and 3. The pressure exerting means may be hydraulic, air, spring, or any other conventional means for maintaining a preselected pressure on a given object.

The heated surface 4 may be substantially flat at the point of contact with each of the rollers, but the surface 4 is generally curved, as illustrated by the edges 7 and 8. Curving the entrance and exit portions of the heated surface 4 allows for sheet material traveling at a high rate of speed to enter and exit the treating zone with decreased opportunities for wrinkling. The heated surface 4 is generally maintained at a temperature of at least 150 F and usually less than 400 F. The means for heating the surface 4 may be by any conventional means, such as electricity, gas, steam, and the like, the means for heating the heated surface 4 in FIG. 1 is electricity, as exemplified by the electrical cord 9.

Means for moistening the surface to be treated in the first treating zone is exemplified as a steam conduit 6 having a plurality of openings (not shown) therein, the conduit 6 extending transversely the width of the sheet of printing material 1, the conduit 6 being spaced from the sheet 1 with the openings (not shown) therein being evenly spaced to provide a uniform spray of steam across the surface of the material 1 as it passes across the steam conduit. It is realized that other moistening means, such as a water spray, may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

The second treating zone of the exemplified apparatus in FIG. 1 is basically a mirror image of the first treating zone wherein the second treating zone is adapted to treat the opposite side of the sheet of printing material 1. The second treating zone includes a pair of rotatably mounted pressure rollers 22 and 23, a heated surface 24, and a steam conduit 26. The rollers 22 and 23 are constructed of the same material and are adapted to rotate at approximately the same speed as rollers 2 and 3. The rollers 22 and 23 are driven by motors 31 and 32, respectively, it being realized that other driving means may be utilized to turn the rollers 22 and 23. Rollers 22 and 23 are mounted so that they will press upwards towards the heated surface 24 at a predetermined pressure thereby keeping a uniform pressure on the sheet 1 as it passes through the treating zone.

The heated surface 24 is constructed and heated in the same manner as heated surface 4. The moistening means in the second treating zone is a steam conduit 26 having a plurality of openings 33 therein for spraying a uniform quantity of steam transversely of the surface of the sheet 1 which is to be treated.-

FIG. 2 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention including two treating zones, the

first treating zone being adapted to treat one side of a sheet of printing material and the second treating zone being adapted to treat the opposite side of the sheet of printing material.

The first treating zone includes two rotatably mounted rollers 51 and 52, a heated surface 53, and a steam conduit 54. The rollers 51 and 52 are pressure rolls mounted directly above the heated surface 53 and are adapted for contacting the surface 53 under a predetermined amount of pressure. Rollers 51 and 52 are generally constructed with a non-metallic surface as discussed previously. Means for rotating the rollers 51 and 52 may be by any conventional means, such as motors (not shown). In the mounting of the pressure rollers 51 and 52, the rollers 51 and 52 are specifically mounted to exert a predetermined amount of pressure on the surface 53 in the same manner as discussed previously in relation to rollers 2 and 3.

The heated surface 53 in FIG. 2 is illustrated as a heated cylinder having a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the pressure rollers 51 and 52. Means for heating the cylinder 53 is not shown but may be the same as described previously in the discussion of FIG. 1. The heated cylinder 53 is further adapted to rotate and is illustrated as rotating in the opposite direction in comparison with the rotation of the pressure rolls 51 and 52. The surface speed of cylinder 53 is relatively slow thereby dragging" against the surface to be treated. It is realized that the cylinder 53 may be stationary or rotate in the same direction as the rollers 51 and 52, but at a relatively low surface speed. The heated surface 53 is generally maintained at a temperature of at least l50 F and usually less than 400 F. The means for heating the surface 53 may be by any conventional means, such as electricity, gas, steam, and the like, the means for heating the heated surface not being shown.

Means for moistening the surface to be treated in the first treating zone is exemplified as a steam conduit 54 having a plurality of openings 56, only one being shown. The conduit 54 extends transversely the width of the sheet of printing material 1, the conduit 54 being spaced from the sheet 1 with the openings 56 therein being evenly spaced to provide a uniform spray of steam across the surface of the material 1 as it passes across the steam conduit 54.

The second treating zone of the exemplified apparatus in FIG. 2 is basically a mirror image of the first treating zone wherein the second treating zone is adapted to treat the opposite side of the sheet of printing material 1. The second treating zone includes a pair of rotatably mounted pressure rollers 61' and 62, a heated surface 63 and a steam conduit 64. The rollers 61 and 62 are constructed of the same material and are adapted to rotate at approximately the same speed as rollers 51 and S2. The rollers 61 and 62 are driven by, for example, motors (not shown), it being realized that other driving means may be utilized to turn the rollers 61 and 62. Rollers 61 and 62 are mounted so that they will press upwards towards the heated surface 63 at a predetermined pressure thereby keeping a uniform pressure on the sheet 1 as it passes through the treating zone.

The heated surface 63 is constructed and heated in the same manner as heated surface 53. The moistening means in the second treating zone is a steam conduit 64 having a plurality of openings 66 therein for spraying a uniform quantity of steam transversely of the surface of the sheet 1 which is to be treated.

In the operation of the apparatus of the example of the present invention, a sheet of printing material, such as a rough, dull appearing paper for upgrading is fed at a rate of up to 3,200 feet per minute from a feeding or unwinding machine (not shown) and higher to the first treating zone. As the sheet material 1 passes across the steam conduit, a uniform steam spray is applied across the entire width of the bottom surface of the sheet. The moistened sheet 1 then passes between the pressure rollers and the heated surface. For example, rollers 2 and 3 are adapted for exerting a pressure of about l to l00 pounds per square inch to the surface upon which they are in contact. Rollers 2 and 3 have a surface speed of at least the speed of the moving sheet 1. The heated surface with which the sheet 1 comes in contact with is a metallic surface maintained at generally between ISO and 200 F. Between the pressure and movement of the pressure rollers in combination with the heated surface heating and dragging" against the moistened surface of the sheet 1, the surface of the sheet 1 which contacts the heating surface is smooth and glossy.

The sheet 1 then passes underthe steam conduit of the second treating zone wherein a uniform spray of steam is deposited transversely across the surface to be treated. The sheet 1 then passes between the second pair of pressure rollers and a second heated surface wherein the rollers are turning at a surface speed approximately equal to the surface speed of the pair of pressure rollers in treating zone 1, the second pair of rollers exerting an upward pressure of about the same as the first pair. The second heated surface is maintained at a temperature of about the same as the first heat surface. The sheet 1 leaving the second treating zone has printing surfaces on both surfaces of the sheet which are smooth and glossy in appearance. The sheet 1 is then fed to the printing or processing machine (not shown) or wound into coils for later use.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for improving the printing surface of a sheet of printing material comprising: a first treating zone for continuously treating one surface of a sheet of printing material including at least one rotatably lationship therebetween with said surface of said sheet to be treated contacting said heated surface; and, first moistening means disposed upstream of said heated surface, said first moistening means being adapted for moistening the surface of said sheet of printing material which is to be treated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a second treating zonefor treating the opposite surface of said sheet of printing material including at least one rotatable mounted pressure roller adapted for rotation at a preselected surface speed greater than the speed of said sheet of printing material, a stationary heated surface having at least one portion thereof with a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said roller, said roller disposed to contact said heated surface, said roller and said heated surface further being adapted to receive said sheet of material in contacting relationship therebetween with said surface of said sheet to be treated contacting said heated surface; and, second moistening means disposed upstream of said heated surface, said second moistening means being adapted for moistening said surface of said sheet of printing material which is to be treated.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said first and second moistening means being conduits extending transversely the width of a sheet of material to be treated and includes apertures therein uniformly spaced to provide a uniform distribution of moisture across the entire width of said surface to be treated.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, said heated surfaces being adapted for maintaining a uniform temperature.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, said first and second moistening means being steam means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, said steam means being conduits adapted to extend transversely the width of a sheet to be treated and includes apertures therein uniformly spaced to provide a uniform distribution of moisture across the entire width of the surface to be treated. 

1. An aPparatus for improving the printing surface of a sheet of printing material comprising: a first treating zone for continuously treating one surface of a sheet of printing material including at least one rotatably mounted pressure roller adapted for rotation at a preselected surface speed greater than the speed of said sheet of printing material; a stationary heated surface having at least one portion thereof with a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said roller, said roller disposed to contact said heated surface, said roller and said heated surface further being adapted to receive a sheet of material in contacting relationship therebetween with said surface of said sheet to be treated contacting said heated surface; and, first moistening means disposed upstream of said heated surface, said first moistening means being adapted for moistening the surface of said sheet of printing material which is to be treated.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a second treating zone for treating the opposite surface of said sheet of printing material including at least one rotatable mounted pressure roller adapted for rotation at a preselected surface speed greater than the speed of said sheet of printing material, a stationary heated surface having at least one portion thereof with a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of said roller, said roller disposed to contact said heated surface, said roller and said heated surface further being adapted to receive said sheet of material in contacting relationship therebetween with said surface of said sheet to be treated contacting said heated surface; and, second moistening means disposed upstream of said heated surface, said second moistening means being adapted for moistening said surface of said sheet of printing material which is to be treated.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, said first and second moistening means being conduits extending transversely the width of a sheet of material to be treated and includes apertures therein uniformly spaced to provide a uniform distribution of moisture across the entire width of said surface to be treated.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, said heated surfaces being adapted for maintaining a uniform temperature.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, said first and second moistening means being steam means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, said steam means being conduits adapted to extend transversely the width of a sheet to be treated and includes apertures therein uniformly spaced to provide a uniform distribution of moisture across the entire width of the surface to be treated. 